Europe Explored » dionysus https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Tindari – the Greek-Roman archaeological site | Sicily, Italy https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/31/tindari-the-greek-roman-archaeological-site-sicily-italy/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/31/tindari-the-greek-roman-archaeological-site-sicily-italy/#comments Tue, 31 May 2011 14:15:58 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4260 Tindari is a small coastal town situated on a rocky hill (Capo Tindari) and contains the remnants of an ancient Greek site Tyndaris from 396 BC. Thanks to its strategic location, the city could easily control and prevent the sea between the Aeolian islands and Messina until it was finally conquered by Carthaginians. Sanctuary of […]

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Tindari is a small coastal town situated on a rocky hill (Capo Tindari) and contains the remnants of an ancient Greek site Tyndaris from 396 BC. Thanks to its strategic location, the city could easily control and prevent the sea between the Aeolian islands and Messina until it was finally conquered by Carthaginians.

Tindari, Sicily, Italy
Sanctuary of the Black Madonna, Tindari, Sicily, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

Later, the city was restored by Romans who built new buildings, schools, spas, theatre, markets and restored and remodelled the old building. The theatre, built by the Greeks, was remodelled and equipped at the request of its new audience. But then followed the period of decline, during which the part of the city was destroyed by the Arab raids in the 9th century.

Today there is still a Greek theatre, Roman houses, public spa and the remains of the fortifications. The museum shows statues of Hellenic and Greek and Roman ceramics.

Near the town there is the Sanctuary of the Black Madonna (Santuario della Madonna Nera). Black Madonna has been venerated since Byzantine times, and in the 60′s of 20th century her statue was placed here, which can be found in this sanctuary.

Beach in Oliveri with Tindari on the hill, Sicily, Italy
Beach in Oliveri with Tindari on the hill, Sicily, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

The archaeological site – the remains of ancient town

The route that leads to the top of Capo Tindari, passing along the defensive walls built during the reign of Dionysus, which later was redesigned and replaced with double walls of stone blocks. In the southern part of the town there is a spa area, restaurants and stores, including the great aristocratic house with well-preserved mosaic. There are also some remains of buildings from which you can see the perfect elegance of the original site. The remains were identified as remnants of the basilica or the place where people meet for religious purposes, but its real function is unknown. In addition to this area is the theatre, built by the Greeks in the 4th century and was also a place of gladiatorial contests.

The tongue of sand (linguetta di Sabbia)

Under the archaeological site and the Sanctuary you can see a strip of sand, stretching 1.5 km into the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is in the shape of the tongue, the highest point is about 4 m above sea level. The plot creates a kind of lagoon and several small lakes, thus providing the ideal home for large numbers of plants and animals (now it is a nature reserve). The location is ideal for swimming or walking, but also an ideal place for watching the sunset. Here you can get from a village of Oliveri.

If you are driving a car, you can also visit the remains of Roman villas in Patti.

Linguetta di Sabbia, near Oliveri, Sicily, Italy
Linguetta di Sabbia, near Oliveri, Sicily, Italy / Photo by Claire for Europe Explored

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Mount Olympus – the highest mountain in Greece https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/20/mount-olympus-the-highest-mountain-in-greece/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/05/20/mount-olympus-the-highest-mountain-in-greece/#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 08:36:09 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4006 Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. Its highest peak is Mytikas (2917 m). Olympus was mythological home to twelve most important Greek gods, specifically of the Pantheon. Mount Olympus is World’s Biosphere Reserve and also Olympus National Park. It is a popular tourist destination. The starting point for visiting the highest peaks is […]

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Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece. Its highest peak is Mytikas (2917 m). Olympus was mythological home to twelve most important Greek gods, specifically of the Pantheon. Mount Olympus is World’s Biosphere Reserve and also Olympus National Park. It is a popular tourist destination.

The starting point for visiting the highest peaks is the town of Litochoro, from which you can go by car to the mountain village Priónia and then continue on foot. In the Mount Olympus you can visit Agios Dionysios Monastery (Metochio), which was built in the 15th century and was originally dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It is located 3 km from the town of Litochoro.

In later years it was renamed after its founder monk Dionysus, who came to this area from the Meteora monasteries. During Turkish rule the robbers hid in the monastery who heavily damaged it together with many other sights. Only the perimeter walls with original paintings remained. The monastery is now being renovated – central chapel and the outdoor area were already opened.

It is really amazing to swim in the sea and watching this high mountain.


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Abbey of San Galgano – the town of secrets and legends in Italy https://europeexplored.com/2010/10/09/san-galgano-the-town-of-secrets-and-legends-in-italy/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/10/09/san-galgano-the-town-of-secrets-and-legends-in-italy/#comments Sat, 09 Oct 2010 16:56:05 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=1421 Abbey of San Galgano is located about 30 km west of Siena, near the border with the province of Grosseto, in a wild, unspoiled and rich natural beauty. Galgano Guidotti (1148-1181), son of Guido and Dionysus, was a brave, but dissolute young king, who later renounced the material world and turned to God. When he […]

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Abbey of San Galgano is located about 30 km west of Siena, near the border with the province of Grosseto, in a wild, unspoiled and rich natural beauty. Galgano Guidotti (1148-1181), son of Guido and Dionysus, was a brave, but dissolute young king, who later renounced the material world and turned to God. When he tried to break the sword on the rock as a symbol of opposition to the war, the rock suddenly engulfed it. King saw this as a divine sign. He built a hut on a hill above the abbey (now there is the chapel) and here also eventually died as a hermit. In 1185 he was declared a Saint by Pope Lucius III. Later Pope Urban III. canonized and declared him as a model of Christian kings.

You can still see the sword in the rock.


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